Embedded authentication systems in an electronic device

Abstract

This invention is directed to an electronic device with an embedded authentication system for restricting access to device resources. The authentication system may include one or more sensors operative to detect biometric information of a user. The sensors may be positioned in the device such that the sensors may detect appropriate biometric information as the user operates the device, without requiring the user to perform a step for providing the biometric information (e.g., embedding a fingerprint sensor in an input mechanism instead of providing a fingerprint sensor in a separate part of the device housing). In some embodiments, the authentication system may be operative to detect a visual or temporal pattern of inputs to authenticate a user. In response to authenticating, a user may access restricted files, applications (e.g., applications purchased by the user), or settings (e.g., application settings such as contacts or saved game profile).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device, comprising:
 a display; 
 a fingerprint sensor in the display; 
 one or more processors; 
 memory storing one or more programs configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:
 while a respective function of the device is in a locked state:
 displaying a graphical element on the display, the graphical element indicating a location of the fingerprint sensor in the display, wherein displaying the graphical element on the display includes highlighting an outline of the location of the fingerprint sensor in the display; 
 while displaying the graphical element, detecting an input with the fingerprint sensor; 
 determining whether the input meets unlock criteria based at least in part on fingerprint information detected by the fingerprint sensor during the input; 
 
 in response to detecting the input:
 in accordance with a determination that the input meets unlock criteria, unlocking the respective function; and 
 in accordance with a determination that the input does not meet the unlock criteria, maintaining the respective function in the locked state. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the outline of the location of the fingerprint sensor is temporarily highlighted in accordance with a determination that the user has a difficulty providing a suitable fingerprint to the fingerprint sensor. 
     
     
       3. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the fingerprint sensor has higher density of capacitive sensors than other regions of the touch-sensitive display. 
     
     
       4. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the fingerprint sensor is underneath a display stack of the touch-sensitive display. 
     
     
       5. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises an existing component of a display stack of the touch-sensitive display. 
     
     
       6. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the fingerprint sensor is a two dimensional fingerprint sensor that is configured to obtain the fingerprint information from a stationary finger input at the location of the fingerprint sensor in the display. 
     
     
       7. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises one or more types of a capacitive sensor, an optical sensor, a sonar sensor, a radio-frequency sensor, a pulse-detecting sensor, and a heat sensor. 
     
     
       8. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the fingerprint sensor has a different type of capacitive sensor arrays compared to other regions of the display. 
     
     
       9. A method comprising:
 at an electronic device with a display and a fingerprint sensor in the display:
 while a respective function of the device is in a locked state:
 displaying a graphical element on the display, the graphical element indicating a location of the fingerprint sensor in the display, wherein displaying the graphical element on the display includes highlighting an outline of the location of the fingerprint sensor in the display; 
 while displaying the graphical element, detecting an input with the fingerprint sensor; 
 determining whether the input meets unlock criteria based at least in part on fingerprint information detected by the fingerprint sensor during the input; 
 
 in response to detecting the input:
 in accordance with a determination that the input meets unlock criteria, unlocking the respective function; and 
 in accordance with a determination that the input does not meet the unlock criteria, maintaining the respective function in the locked state. 
 
 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the outline of the location of the fingerprint sensor is temporarily highlighted in accordance with a determination that the user has a difficulty providing a suitable fingerprint to the fingerprint sensor. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the fingerprint sensor has higher density of capacitive sensors than other regions of the touch-sensitive display. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the fingerprint sensor is underneath a display stack of the touch-sensitive display. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises an existing component of a display stack of the touch-sensitive display. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the fingerprint sensor is a two dimensional fingerprint sensor that is configured to obtain the fingerprint information from a stationary finger input at the location of the fingerprint sensor in the display. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises one or more types of a capacitive sensor, an optical sensor, a sonar sensor, a radio-frequency sensor, a pulse-detecting sensor, and a heat sensor. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the fingerprint sensor has a different type of capacitive sensor arrays compared to other regions of the display. 
     
     
       17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processors of an electronic device with a display screen and a fingerprint sensor in the display, the one or more programs including instructions for:
 while a respective function of the device is in a locked state:
 displaying a graphical element on the display, the graphical element indicating a location of the fingerprint sensor in the display, wherein displaying the graphical element on the display includes highlighting an outline of the location of the fingerprint sensor in the display; 
 while displaying the graphical element, detecting an input with the fingerprint sensor; 
 determining whether the input meets unlock criteria based at least in part on fingerprint information detected by the fingerprint sensor during the input; 
 
 in response to detecting the input:
 in accordance with a determination that the input meets unlock criteria, unlocking the respective function; and 
 in accordance with a determination that the input does not meet the unlock criteria, maintaining the respective function in the locked state that the user input includes a typographical error, correcting the displayed user input. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the outline of the location of the fingerprint sensor is temporarily highlighted in accordance with a determination that the user has a difficulty providing a suitable fingerprint to the fingerprint sensor. 
     
     
       19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the fingerprint sensor has higher density of capacitive sensors than other regions of the touch-sensitive display. 
     
     
       20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the fingerprint sensor is underneath a display stack of the touch-sensitive display. 
     
     
       21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises an existing component of a display stack of the touch-sensitive display. 
     
     
       22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the fingerprint sensor is a two dimensional fingerprint sensor that is configured to obtain the fingerprint information from a stationary finger input at the location of the fingerprint sensor in the display. 
     
     
       23. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises one or more types of a capacitive sensor, an optical sensor, a sonar sensor, a radio-frequency sensor, a pulse-detecting sensor, and a heat sensor. 
     
     
       24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the fingerprint sensor has a different type of capacitive sensor arrays compared to other regions of the display.